Former Lady Vol Magnuson bound for Beijing

Christine Magnuson waves with her first-place medal for the women's 100-meter butterfly during the awards ceremony at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in Omaha, Neb., on Monday.

OMAHA, Neb. - First, the SEC. Then, the nation. Next up, the world.

Christine Magnuson, the 2008 SEC female swimmer of the year and NCAA champion, won the 100-meter butterfly final at the Olympic swimming trials Monday night and will represent the United States at the Beijing Olympics in August.

"I'm going to China!" said Magnuson.

Wearing her bright orange University of Tennessee swim cap, Magnuson got off to a slow start in the race. She was in third place after the first 50 meters, no doubt worrying her many friends and teammates who were watching at a Knoxville Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant. But Magnuson wasn't concerned.

"I knew a lot of people would be out fast," said Magnuson, 22. "My coach told me that no matter who was with you at the 50, you know you can bring it home."

Bring it home she did. Magnuson reeled in her competitors, then held on to win in 58.11 - .10 of a second ahead of Elaine Breeden. Former University of Kentucky swimmer and 1999 SEC women's swimmer of the year Rachel Komisarz, was third in 58.36.

While four world records have been broken in two days at the trials, Magnuson's time in the finals was slower than her semifinal time of 57.50.

"I was a little nervous," Magnuson said. "But I can learn from this for the Olympics. I can definitely be at 57 then."

Magnuson's Olympic team berth caps a rapid ascent for the native of Tinley Park, Ill. Four years ago she didn't compete in the Olympic trials. Last year she burst onto the national scene with a third-place finish in the 100 fly at the U.S. nationals.

"If you had asked me a few years ago if I would make an Olympics, I would have probably given you a very strange look," she said.

Now everyone is reaching out to congratulate her.

"It's amazing how many text messages, e-mails and Facebook messages I've received in the last 24 hours."

Magnuson set personal bests in her first two 100 fly races here. In Sunday morning's preliminaries she swam 57.84. Then Sunday night she swam 57.50 to earn the No. 1 seed for the final.

Only two women have swum faster than Magnuson this year: Australians Libby Trickett and Jessica Schipper.

Magnuson's Olympic trials aren't over yet. She's seeded 27th in 200 free, which begins today, and she's seeded 12th in the 100 free, which begins Thursday. But now that she's made the team, Magnuson thinks the rest of the meet will be a breeze.

"Now I can really relax and have fun," she said. "This was a blast tonight. I don't know how that can top it."

Other Lady Vols: Distance swimmer Aleksa Akerfelds finished 40th in the 400 freetyle and Carly Mathes was 46th. Tricia Weaner took 40th in the 100 backstroke while Jamie Saffer was 86th in the 100 breaststroke and Michele King 92nd.

Former UT swimmer Jacque Fessell was 72nd in the 100 back and future Lady Vol Jenny Connolly was 11th in the 100 back s emifinals.